* The asterisk in the question indicates that we are eliminting the "homer" vote by not including Roy Halladay in this poll, though he is clearly a viable candidate. Feel free to define your choice below as "Other than" or even as "Including" if you so desire.

The last cuts from this poll were Brad Penny and Daisuke Matsuzka, but as noted last time around, I undoubtedly forgot someone obvious (other than Halladay as noted above)

I voted Other to nominate "Whoever is facing the Giants tongiht."

Soon enough, Tim Lincecum will be on such a list as this (and perhaps should be ahead of Tim Hudson).

Lincecum was on my draft list of possibles, as was Felix Hernandez.

Hudson is throwing really well, better than he has in two or three years. I thought about that when including him; I almost went with Penny instead.

Nary a mention of last years AL Cy Young winner?

Heh. I can think of 13.50 reasons C.C. is a no-show in this poll!

What's the half reason?

Scott Kazmir.

I went for other as a vote for Cole Hamels.  I like dark horses.

"What's the half reason?"

That's CC's ERA I believe.

Well yeah but if there weren't a half reason he'd be pitching a 13 or a 14 or something instead... right? (no)

I need answers!! Maybe it's his W-L record.

Also, since I haven't flooded this thread enough, my terms. My best pitcher is the guy contributes the most to his team's run prevention. Kazmir has put up 3.77, 3.24 and 3.48 ERAs the last three years with the legendary Devil Rays defense behind him, in the AL East no less. That is an accomplishment.

My real choice would be Halladay because his ability to go 7.5 very good innings a start when he's healthy is unique and very valuable.

My criteria for the best is the guy I'd want on the mound for a must-win game.  I picked Peavy with Santana a close second.

Well, Peavy has started two games in the post-season and he's 0-2, 12.10. But the main reason Jake would be my number two pick here (behind Johan) is that Santana's been just just a little bit better despite the fact that he's been working in what's usually been a pretty good place to hit, in the DH league. Whereas Peavy is in the National league, and also gets to spends half his time in the best pitcher's park the game has seen in the last 100 years (granted, Peavy has been just as good away from Petco. )

Brandon Webb is the Roy Halladay of the NL. 

He is an extreme groundballer who averages nearly a K an inning but manages to keep his pitch counts down allowing him to go deep in most games.   All the more impressive is that he pitches in one of the NL's best offensive parks.  

Johan is capable of more dominating performances but he has become prone to the long ball.   He also appears to have lost a tick off his fastball although it might pick up as the weather warms.  Still tremendous but the guy who gives his team the best chance to win when he steps on the hill is Webb. 

Peavy is pretty darn good too, though his home park is a little too favourable for him to take the title. 

This is a bit of a tangent, but of the nine guys listed -- and the others added above by Bauxites, who do you see as a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate?

Santana, Peavy, Webb all will have good cases. Oswalt, maybe. Sheets if he stays healthy. All of those guys need to pitch at least another 3-5 studly years. (Halladay, too.) But nobody else on this list jumps off the page at me as "Hope he has a speech ready ..."

I notice again that the we have so many NL players here.

And I'm alarmed that this list does not include Brian Bannister.